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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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DENELL CAVER,
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Plaintiff,
v.
Case No. 1:16-cv-01885-DAD-BAM (PC)
ORDER REFERRING CASE TO POSTSCREENING ADR AND STAYING CASE
FOR 90 DAYS
J. CEBALLOS, et al.,
Defendants.
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Plaintiff Denell Caver (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner, proceeding pro se and in forma
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pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Defendants have answered the
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complaint. (ECF No. 14.)
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Because it takes years to get to trial, the Court has identified this case as an appropriate
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case for post-screening ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), which is an effort to resolve such
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cases more expeditiously and less expensively. No claims, defenses, or objections shall be
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waived by the parties’ participation. In appropriate cases, defense counsel from the California
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State Attorney General’s Office has agreed to participate in these early settlements.
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As set forth in the screening order, Plaintiff has stated a cognizable civil rights claim. But,
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stating a cognizable claim does not mean Plaintiff will prevail at trial. Thus, the Court stays this
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action for a period of 90 days to allow the parties to investigate Plaintiff’s claims, meet and
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confer, and then participate in a settlement conference.
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Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone to conduct a
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settlement conference at United States Courthouse in Fresno, California on October 24, 2017, at
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10:30 a.m. The Court will issue the necessary transportation order in due course.
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In issuing this order, there is a presumption that this case will proceed to a settlement
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conference. 1 However, if after investigating Plaintiff’s claims and speaking with Plaintiff, and
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after conferring with others, defense counsel in good faith finds that a settlement conference
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would be a waste of resources, defense counsel may move to opt out of this early settlement
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conference. A written notice to opt out must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of the
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issuance of this order.
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The parties shall each submit to Judge Boone a confidential settlement conference
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statement, as described below, to arrive at least seven days (one week) prior to the conference.
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The Court puts the parties on notice that if Plaintiff has any outstanding criminal
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restitution obligation, fines and/or penalties, these settlement negotiations shall not be geared
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towards what the restitution obligation is, but what the value the of the case itself is to each side,
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irrespective of any outstanding restitution obligation.
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In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
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1. This action is STAYED for 90 days to allow the parties an opportunity to settle their
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dispute before the discovery process begins. Except as provided herein or by
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subsequent court order, no other pleadings or other documents may be filed in this
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case during the stay of this action. The parties shall not engage in formal discovery,
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but may engage in informal discovery to prepare for the settlement conference.
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2. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone
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on October 24, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., at the United States Courthouse located at 2500
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Tulare Street, Fresno, California.
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3. A representative with full and unlimited authority to negotiate and enter into a binding
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settlement shall attend in person.
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If the case does not settle, the court will then lift the stay of its Discovery and Scheduling Order or issue one
forthwith.
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4. Those in attendance must be prepared to discuss the claims, defenses and damages.
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The failure of any counsel, party or authorized person subject to this order to appear in
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person may result in the imposition of sanctions. In addition, the conference will not
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proceed and may be reset to another date.
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5. Defendants shall provide a confidential settlement statement to the following email
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address: saborders@caed.uscourts.gov. Plaintiff shall mail his confidential
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settlement statement to U.S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California,
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93721, “Attention: Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone.” The envelope shall be
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marked “Confidential Settlement Statement”. Settlement statements shall arrive no
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later than October 17, 2017. Parties shall also file a Notice of Submission of
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Confidential Settlement Statement. See Local Rule 270(d). Settlement statements
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should not be filed with the Clerk of the Court nor served on any other party.
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Settlement statements shall be clearly marked “confidential” with the date and time of
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the settlement conference indicated prominently thereon.
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6. The confidential settlement statement shall be no longer than five pages in length,
typed or neatly printed, and include the following:
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a. A brief statement of the facts of the case.
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b. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other grounds
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upon which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties’
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likelihood of prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the
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major issues in dispute.
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c. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial,
and trial.
d. The party’s position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a
history of past settlement discussions, offers, and demands.
e. A brief statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the settlement
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conference, including how much a party is willing to accept and/or willing to
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pay.
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7. If a settlement is reached at any point during the stay of this action, the parties shall
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file a Notice of Settlement in accordance with Local Rule 160.
8. If the defense counsel wishes to “opt-out” of this settlement for the reasons stated
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above, counsel must do so within thirty (30) days of this order by filing a “Notice of
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Opt-Out and Request to Vacate Settlement Conference.”
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9. The parties remain obligated to keep the Court informed of their current address at all
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times during the stay and while the action is pending. Any change of address must be
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reported promptly to the Court in a separate document captioned for this case and
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entitled “Notice of Change of Address.” See Local Rule 182(f).
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10. A failure to follow these procedures may result in the imposition of sanctions by the
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court.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
/s/ Barbara
September 11, 2017
A. McAuliffe
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UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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